Her call comes as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) publishes the results of a survey of 1,759 members on experiences of parental behaviour over the past 12 months.
It finds that nearly all (95%) have experienced unreasonable demands about what their school can provide, and a similar number have received complaints from parents about school rules being applied to their child. Ninety per cent have experienced rude or disrespectful behaviour and 60% verbal abuse or threats.
Subject access requests are commonly used in a challenging or excessive manner (73%) and 57% have experienced hostile or defamatory comments on social media.
Most school leaders (88%) say parental behaviour has increased their workload and distracted from teaching and learning, while 78% say it has negatively affected their mental health and wellbeing.
Addressing ASCL’s Annual Conference in Liverpool, Dr Rowley will say that education must be a joint project between policymakers, parents, and educators, but that “a minority of parents with unreasonable expectations and short tempers are a drain on time, energy, and resources.”
She will say to the government: “Work with us on a national campaign to talk to parents about the importance of supporting their schools and colleges.
“The importance of their children following the rules for the benefit of all students.
“And if they are unhappy about something, the importance of making complaints in a polite and reasonable manner.
“Most parents know this already and they work very productively with their schools and colleges.
“But some parents are clearly struggling to deal with the pressures in their own lives, and their behaviour is very challenging.
“The huge amount of work and stress they generate detracts from other children, undermines behaviour policies, and contributes to the pressures which drive people out of teaching.”
The survey shows that schools and colleges use a wide range of measures to build and maintain positive relationships with parents, including phone calls to discuss pupil progress or concerns (96%), home visits related to behaviour or attendance (80%), and in-school meetings to resolve disputes or concerns (98%).
Most leaders would like to see clearer and stronger guidance from the government about acceptable parental behaviour and expectations (92%), national campaigns to promote positive parental engagement with schools and colleges (83%), stronger regulation of harmful or abusive content on social media (84%), and improved local services to support families facing difficulties (80%).
The ASCL Annual Conference 2026 is taking place at the ACC Liverpool on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March and is attended by around 1,000 education leaders.
Download the ASCL President's speech
Survey results
The ASCL survey on experiences of parental behaviour was sent to members in senior leadership roles in state-funded and independent schools, trusts, and colleges in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in February 2026. Most respondents were from state-funded secondary and all-through schools (81%). The survey received 1,759 responses.
Q1. In the past 12 months, have you personally experienced any of the following behaviours from a parent or parents? (Indicate all that apply)
| |
|
|
Response % |
|
Response % |
| Unreasonable demands or expectations about what the school/college/trust can provide |
|
|
95.28% |
|
1,676 |
| Complaints about school/college rules being applied to their child |
|
|
95.45% |
|
1,679 |
| Rude or disrespectful behaviour |
|
|
90.45% |
|
1,591 |
| Verbal abuse or threats |
|
|
60.49% |
|
1,064 |
| Physical assault |
|
|
2.39% |
|
42 |
| Hostile or defamatory comments on social media |
|
|
56.57% |
|
995 |
| Subject access requests used in a way that is challenging or excessive |
|
|
72.71% |
|
1,279 |
| Behaviour that increases your workload and distracts from teaching and learning |
|
|
87.78% |
|
1,544 |
| Behaviour that has negatively affected your mental health and wellbeing |
|
|
77.66% |
|
1,366 |
| None of the above |
|
|
0.57% |
|
10 |
| I do not have contact with parents as part of my role |
|
|
0.40% |
|
7 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Answered |
|
|
|
|
1,759 |
Q2. Which statement best reflects your overall experience of parental behaviour in your setting?
| |
|
|
Response % |
|
Response total |
| Almost all parents behave appropriately and are supportive |
|
|
9.85% |
|
175 |
| Most parents behave appropriately, but the behaviour of a minority is a concern |
|
|
80.61% |
|
1,418 |
| The behaviour of a significant proportion of parents is a concern |
|
|
9.44% |
|
166 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Answered |
|
|
|
|
1,759 |
Q3. Which of the following does your school, college or trust currently use to build and maintain positive relationships with parents? (Indicate all that apply)
| |
|
|
Response % |
|
Response total |
| Regular communication about curriculum, attainment, attendance, and school news |
|
|
92.67% |
|
1,630 |
| Newsletters or email updates |
|
|
94.71% |
|
1,666 |
| Parents’ evenings and other engagement events |
|
|
99.26% |
|
1,746 |
| Workshops or information sessions for parents |
|
|
76.07% |
|
1,338 |
| Parent forums, councils, or advisory groups |
|
|
37.98% |
|
668 |
| Phone calls to discuss pupil progress or concerns |
|
|
96.42% |
|
1,696 |
| Home visits related to behaviour or attendance |
|
|
80.05% |
|
1,408 |
| Meetings in school/college to resolve disputes or concerns |
|
|
97.73% |
|
1,719 |
| Online portals or apps for progress monitoring and communication |
|
|
72.54% |
|
1,276 |
| Clear processes for de-escalating conflict with parents |
|
|
58.04% |
|
1,021 |
| Community or family engagement events |
|
|
51.73% |
|
910 |
| Support or signposting for families in need |
|
|
85.90% |
|
1,511 |
| Other approaches not listed |
|
|
17.40% |
|
306 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Answered |
|
|
|
|
1,759 |
Q4. Which measures, beyond those taken by individual schools and colleges, could help improve parental behaviour? (Indicate all that apply)
| |
|
|
Response % |
|
Response total |
| Clearer and stronger guidance from government and relevant agencies about acceptable parental behaviour and expectations |
|
|
91.76% |
|
1,614 |
| National campaigns to promote positive parental engagement with schools and colleges |
|
|
83.46% |
|
1,468 |
| Improved local services to support families facing difficulties |
|
|
80.10% |
|
1,409 |
| Better access to adult mental health services for parents |
|
|
68.79% |
|
1,210 |
| Stronger regulation of harmful or abusive content on social media platforms |
|
|
83.68% |
|
1,472 |
| Community-based programmes to support families and encourage constructive engagement with schools |
|
|
56.40% |
|
992 |
| Parent education initiatives delivered at a community or local authority level |
|
|
56.62% |
|
996 |
| Other measures not listed |
|
|
11.26% |
|
198 |
| Not sure |
|
|
1.19% |
|
21 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Answered |
|
|
|
|
1,759 |